Hotmin Mission Station, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

Hotmin is a Mission Station established by Missionaries back then and exist today which is located at the boarder of East and West Sepik Provinces in Papua New Guinea(PNG).

Hotmin is one of the remote villages in the East and West Sepik Provinces amongst other remote villages in other provinces of PNG. It lies along one of the Major Rivers in the Sepik Region known as May River. The main medium of transport is by river utilising the wooden dug-out canoes with 20-40 horsepower motors  attached at the end of the canoes. They also use wooden paddles to paddle the canoes to travel through the Rivers.

Travelling on rivers takes almost a week to reach Wewak Town which is the Capital City of East Sepik Province. They start at May River towards North-East direction to Waringai and Mowi where the May River Meets the Sepik River which is one of the Largest Rivers in PNG. Going with the current to Wewak is quite quick and easy but coming back to Hotmin is a bit of challenge for locals as they go againts the river current which needs more energy. They also have access to Vanimo if they travel upstream from Waringai along the Sepik River and exit at certain locations where they take PMVs to Vanimo Town which is the Capital City of West Sepik/Sandaun Province.

The other medium of transport to have access to Hotmin is of course by Air Transport. Fly into Hotmin by fixed wing airplanes or by choppers.  In the past the missionaries used fixed wing airplanes but this is no more in operation due to the rundown of the Hotmin Airstrip. However, choppers are flown into this village regularly by Mineral Exploration companies like Highlands Pacific, PanAust, Xrata,Niuminco, Minco and the list goes on. Flying in by chopper from Boram Airport in Wewak would take about 1 hour and 30 minutes on a good weather pattern. 

Fly  in from Kiunga or Tabubil in the Western Province which is the shortest route and would take roughly 30 to 50 minutes but this route is quite risky due to regular cloud cover and highrainfall over the Star Mountain ranges. Choppers also fly in from Mount Hagen at the Kagamuga International Airport which will take approximately  2 – 3 hours but this is not safe as it is a bit long journey.

Fly in from Frieda Airstrip of Frieda Base Camp for PanAust Limited would take about 10 to 15 minutes.

Areal Picture of Hotmin Village (Part of the Village) 

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Tree House in New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea

Tree Houses are built on branches of trees to serve different purposes. Some build for children to play while some build for sightseeing facilities while some build for temporary or permanent shelter.

One of the attracting views you would wish to see when you visit the New Ireland Province of Papua New Guinea is this Two Storey Tree Guest House. The Two Storey Tree Guest House for New Ireland is built along the coastline at the side of the Boluminski Highway which extends all the way to the village of Famous Tame Eels in the New Ireland Province.

From Kavieng Town you would drive South-East along Boluminski-Highway which is few meters away from the coast and along Utu Secondary School. Passing Utu Secondary School, you would see beautiful coastal villages along the highway. The Villages look much attractive as flowers of all colours bloom at any time of the day along the highway and you would really enjoy the beauty of the highway and the villages all along the highway. The highway itself is sealed and it’s in a perfect condition.

To get to the site is about half an hour drive (depend on speed) from Utu Secondary School and you would never miss this innovative structure built on a tree on your left hand side. This tree house has one bedroom and a conference table with all necessities you could ever expect from a guest house.

The first floor has one bed to accommodate one guest and the second or the top floor has conference setting with table and chairs and also a bed as well. Both floor of the tree house have verandas of about 2 meters wide which you can sit or stand or walk around to have a wonderful view of the sea and enjoy the pleasant sea breeze.  

The structure of the house is so strong that it can carry a maximum load of 20 to 30 people at a time. Almost all the materials that make up the structure are bush materials except the roofing iron and the nails.

It is very fascinating to see such a creative and yet durable structure on a white sandy beach.

Photo of Tree House in New Ireland Province, PNG.

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Beatiful Sanaroa Island of Papua New Guinea

The Beautiful Sanaroa Island is located at just next to Ferguson Island in the Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea. Before you reach this Island , you have to go through East Cape from Alotau which is locate at the very tip of the PNG mainland
and you have to pass through Normanby Island and Ferguson Island.

You can either reach via Sehulea Station along Wayoko or via the passage between Ferguson and Normanby Islands. Through the passage you will definitely pass along Esaala and Dobu Island.

The island's cloudy white reef at the sea floor which dictates the colour of the sea. The colour of the see changes from dark -blue to sky-blue, green to clear. It is also a best breeding ground for tuna fish which reflects in locals catch fish at anytime when they go fishing within the coastline.

The island itself is so beautiful when you just go along the coast. The mangroves and the plants along the coast with the background of the grassland hills provides a wonderful view ever.

The clans that live in this island include but not limited to Gewale Clan, Yowana Clan , etc. and the island has a primary school which is known as Sanaroa Primary School. Government service is a great need for the people in villages. One of the common village visited by the author is Udaudana Village which lies towards East of Ferguson Island.

Sanaroa Island Via East Cape

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Waghi River (Gumanch River)

The some of the headwaters that springs out from Mount Mul are: Yuu, Wuip, Rurulg,Kuma, Gumanch, Paiyer, Ambulg,Kintip,Petaka, Kumbula and few other tributaries to Baiyer River (Paiyer).

Kuma Creek starts at  the opposite and west of Paiyer River. Only one mountain range separates them. Futher to Kuma creek is Gumanch which further West of Kuma. Kuma and Gumanch meet together at Wekmulg near Kwip and thereafter the river is known as Gumanch until it meets Waghi River. The Waghi River then flows collectively with other tributaries along Western Highlands Province, Jiwaka Province, Simbu Province and Gulf Province that eventually known to be Rurari River that meets the sea at Gulf of Papua.

Google Map of Gumanch River Starts 

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Baiyer River (Paiyer River - Wara Paiyer) in Western Highlands Province, PNG

Baiyer River is one of the largest River in the province. It comes out from a cluster of boulders as a little spring located right at the top of Mount Mul (Mul Komonga). The spot is decorated with grasses and colourful flowers that spreads the top of the mountain. The starting name of the creek is known as Paiyer which eventually known along certain kilometres from Mul - Baiyer and then it is known as Baiyer River from Baiyer to Lumusa and extends further to Lai and Sepkik River.

On the other side of the same mountain range is a spring known as Kuma. Kuma is separated by another mountain range and there comes out the Gumanch River. Kuma and Gumanch meet together at Wekmulg near Kwip and thereafter the river is known as Gumanch until it meets Waghi River.

There are also several varied coloured pools that  naturally exist just at the side of the mountain top of Mul.

The Paiyer River flows along the thick forest of Mul until it reaches first village known as Marapana then followed by Tagla and Keiya Ralg. It then follows further down and meet tributaries known as Pup and Kela at Wara Village. It flows along the tribes of Mele and Nenga. The next known tributaries are Ramund, Kintip, Petaka, Kumbula, Kunim, Hurmil that extend to the tribe of Kumdi along Rugli and Nengil, Boor, Kombolopa.

As the tributaries increase in numbers along its gravitational flow, the size and current of the river increases. At the head waters, it is easy to cross over but at certain kilometres after Bukapena Village, it is quite a challenge to cross the Paiyer river easily.

The Paiyer River reaches  miles along the Mul Baiyer and Lumusa. The name Paiyer River changes to Baiyer River once it reaches Baiyer and Lumusa Districts.

The next tribes that the Baiyer River reaches are Enga Kumbu, Enga Maip, Ukuni, Kopi, K-Witi and several other tribes of Enga Baiyer along Kaldeta, Rupanda, Baiyer Zoo, Kumbris etc.

The Baiyer River further extends North East and meets Lai River, Muka River along  Koles, Wadji, Tamo in the East Sepik Province, Sipisipi, Bun, Biwat and eventually meets the Sepik River at Arangumam Moim and Kambrindo Villages near Angoram in the East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea.

Baiyer River starts at Mount Mul (Mt.Hagen), in the Mul District of Western Highlands Province, PNG. Likewise, Purari River starts from Mount Mul.

Map of Mount Mul

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Name Change of Mount Mul to Mount Hagen

Mount Hagen City is not the original name known by the forefathers of the Western Highlands Province and PNG at large. Mount Hagen was previously known as Lgomis  Town or Lgomis and Mountain Hagen as Mountain Mul (Mul Komonga).

The Lgomis name and Mount Mul (Mul Komongo) were both changed to Mount Hagen at the same time when the German Colonial Officer Curt von Hagen (1859-1897) first step foot in Lgomis in 1960s. Curt von Hagen came to Western Highlands as a Tourist to the First Cultural Show in 1960 in the Western Highlands Province and the Western Highlanders were psyched up to change both names: Mount Mul and 'Lgomis town'  to Mount Hagen after Curt von Hagen. Actually the Mountain was given the name Mountain Hagen and the third city of Papua New Guinea adopted the Mountain's name.

Before that, the Goroka Cultural show was the prior culteral show before Mount Hagen Cultural Show. The First Mount Hagen Cultural Show brought one name that consolidated two names which the generation of today know only the consolidated name and only few know the old names (Mul Komonga and Lgomis)

Mount Mul

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Mount Mul (Hagen) Hosts Headwaters of two Major Rivers in PNG, The Purari River and the Sepik River.

Mount Mul seem to be the center of Papua New Guinea. Mount Mul hosts two headwaters that contribute to the two biggest rivers in PNG, namely: Purari River and Sepik River. The headwaters that contribute are: Gumanch and Nebilyer -(Trulg, Yu, Waip) contribute to Purari River and Paiyer with other tributaries contribute to Baiyer River that joins with Sepik River.

The next article will be in detail on which places the rivers (Purari River and Baiyer River) touches until it ends up in the sea.

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MOUNT MUL

Mount Mul is the third highest Mountain in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and it is located in the Western Highlands Province. It is commonly known as Mount Hagen. The Original and natural name of Mount Hagen is Mount Mul. The locals: Nenga, Munjika, Komka, Kutump, Mele, Ramdi, Kumdi tribes use to call in the Melpa Language of Western Highlands as MUL KOMONGA. The name MUL is in the local language which means something that exist during the creation.

The name Mul was somehow changed to Hagen and the mountain is currently known as Mount Hagen. The Mountain was named after a German Colonial Officer Curt von Hagen (1859-1897). The third bigest city in Papua New Guinea is given the name of  this Mountain.

If it was not Curt von Hagen then the name should remain natural as MOUNTAIN MUL and probably the city could have been given the same name or otherwise.

When?How?Why?What?Who? Actually involved in this name change of the Naturally Known MUL is the next articles.

Mount Mul Range

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